Memory Books

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Memory Books

What a wonderful idea
Though sad as reality is
There was an idea out there
That sprang to life and made reality bearable
For those children in Uganda whose mothers are infected with AIDS.
This memory book which the infected mum writes with her child
To prepare them for the mother’s death
Has served a million if not more children
By helping them cope with what the future holds.
The book is filled with their roots,
Their family, their stories,
And in the years
Where mom and dad are not around,
It lets them remember the good and the bad,
It gives them the roots to help them grow wings.
It provides hope and solace, comfort and love.
I can only commend those ladies
Who taught other ladies to create a memory book for their children.
There was one who did it from the start
And another who could read and write but dared not
And yet another who could not read and write and yet wanted to partake
So she got her older son to write down the words she spoke.
We all will die, and there ought to be no fear in that,
But what beauty there is in sharing and preparing
Your life as a mother with your child
And giving them something to hold onto
In the dark times ahead
when Mother is no longer there to speak to them,
To comfort them with spoken words.
Oh, what sadness AIDS brings,
But what comfort this memory book has brought.

Watch Memory Books by Christa Graf

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